These are the words of festival first-timers The Brothers Comatose, from San Francisco, who summed up the festival’s atmosphere on stage in the first few minutes of the opening night.

Sisters Jo and Terri Plummer have attended every event for the past 42 years and travel from Geelong and Queensland annually. “We remember when it all started on the back of a truck at the Gardens Caravan Park,” Terri said. “We couldn’t miss it. We love it,” Jo said.

Children’s entertainer Nic Dacomb said the event brought all ages together to have a good time. “It’s amazing,” he said. “It really is special.”